Nine Mile Run Watershed Association

Mission: Nine Mile Run Watershed Association (NMRWA) restores and protects its watershed ecosystem, while working regionally to support and implement resilient solutions for a healthy urban environment. We are a recognized national model of environmental stewardship, urban renewal, and inter-municipal cooperation.

Restoration Stewardship and Interpretation Program (RSIP)
The RSIP has championed the Nine Mile Run stream restoration in three ways: (1) Citizen engagement is a key component of NMRWA's mission. Through tree plantings, cleanups, and other community engagement activities, NMRWA raises awareness about the issues facing Nine Mile Run and the watershed while providing the tools necessary for people to effect lasting change. (2) Urban EcoStewards is a collaborative program with five other organizations whereby NMRWA and its partners provide training and tools for people who commit to being long-term stewards of green space throughout the region. NMRWA supervises 25-30 Urban EcoStewards who work in the Nine Mile Run restoration area, removing invasive plant species, picking up litter, and cataloging native plants. (3) Our ongoing monitoring and reporting on a variety of parameters of the Nine Mile Run stream restoration including water quality and habitat enables us to tie the impact of actions taken by NMRWA to the health of the watershed.

Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Projects
NMRWA demonstrated the benefits of GSI early in its history by installing rain barrels on watershed homes and rain gardens in public spaces. Building on these successes and recognizing the limitations of small-scale GSI, NMRWA decided to focus more on implementing larger-scale GSI projects. As a result, the Rosedale Runoff Reduction (RRRP) Project Phase 1 was initiated in 2015. Its primary goal is to remove several million gallons annually of sewage-polluted stormwater runoff from the Nine Mile Run restoration through the construction of strategic GSI sites in the sewershed communities of Homewood, East Hills and Penn Hills. The GSI includes three large sites with multiple features, 40 trees planted in stormwater tree pits, 10 rain gardens, and 200 rain barrels installed on residential properties. Monitoring changes in the flow in the sewer pipes in the target areas will help determine the effectiveness of the new GSI at reducing flow into the Nine Mile Run stream and restoration area.

Urban Forestry Program
NMRWA works to increase the amount of green space in the watershed communities by planting and caring for street trees, reducing impervious pavement, and supporting community garden initiatives. Using 1338 volunteers, NMRWA planted 915 trees in the watershed communities between 2001- 15, of which 500 were planted through the Rooted in Wilkinsburg: 500 Tree Initiative. We also watered and cared for all 500 for two years resulting in a 95% survival rate. Many of the 37 certified tree tenders we have trained assisted with tree planting and care. NMRWA also demonstrated innovative approaches to sidewalk repair which prolonged the life of some large mature street trees, reduced more than 6,000 sq. feet of impervious pavement by constructing tree pits, installed the first demonstrations in SWPA of Flexi-Pave, an innovative permeable paving material that facilitates stormwater management and worked with community groups to plant fruit trees and shrubs at a community garden in Wilkinsburg.

Stormworks Program
NMRWA launched its social enterprise, Stormworks, in spring 2011, to offer our expertise to home and business owners throughout Allegheny County interested in managing stormwater more responsibly on their property. Stormworks' services include comprehensive stormwater consultations, rain barrels, stormwater planters, rain gardens, native landscape design, trees, and maintenance plans. Please see our website at www.stormworkspgh.com for more information. The first two-year business plan for Stormworks was completed at the end of 2012. Funds for a second business plan (2014-16) were secured in late 2013 and the second plan was completed and implementation began in May of 2014. The Stormworks team has installed 1,025 rain barrels and 60 rain gardens as of the end of 2015. In addition, they designed 7 rain gardens without installation and installed 4 landscape designs in 2015. Stormworks has also had the opportunity to participate in several larger-scale GSI projects as well.

Our advocacy work, primarily through the Clean Rivers Campaign, has helped to move our region toward a more sustainable approach to preventing combined sewer overflows. We have advocated for solutions that return more value to ratepayers by delivering additional community benefits like cleaner air and neighborhood cooling while reducing stormwater runoff.

Testimonials

I've always had a deep relationship with the natural world, thanks to my mother who was a biologist...